No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

Matthew 9:16-17 (NIV)

The imagery of new wine and new wineskins is about freshness and new beginnings.

In Jesus’s day, animal skins were used to store wine. New wine is kept in new wineskins because old wineskins will burst due to the fermentation process. When Jesus told his audience, and us as well, “You cannot put new wine in old wineskins…pour new wine into new wineskins,” He is saying we are to stay pliable and be willing to change in order to embrace new moves of God.

Too often we cling to that which is comfortable and familiar since we are used to doing things in a certain way. What was once fresh has become formulaic in our time. And when we get too comfortable and too complacent to change, we will lose our cutting edge and become dull of hearing.

The new wine is the presence and power of the gospel and Kingdom bursting forth through Jesus. His life in us is not meant to be contained or restrained. Rather, as His followers we are built up in Him and for Him so that we might be fully released to continue His work on earth as it is heaven.

The new wineskin is about having a fitting structure and environment to steward the move of the Kingdom of Light as it collides with the Kingdom of Darkness. God is not against structure or system, but He is against institutionalism and legalism. It is impossible to preach the gospel of the Kingdom while trying to retain our habit of “playing” church instead of being the church that turn the world upside down (cf. Acts 17:6). That would be like putting new wine in old wineskins or sewing a new piece of cloth to an old garment. Our efforts will not come into fruition but ruin.

You are both the new wine and the new wineskins of the Spirit of Christ.

There is nothing lacking or missing in your relationship with our Lord. You have everything in Christ. This means you have all you need to do His will and bring Him glory and honour. Just change your mindset and connect your heart with His desires for you.